Perhaps they can call themselves Gang of Two. Jon King and Andy Gill will be all that remains of the Gang of Four following an announcement this week that bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham are leaving the group.

Burnham intends to begin work on a doctorate, whereas Allen wants to dedicate more time to, er, his blog.

Gang of Four reformed three years ago, with Allen and Burnham returning to the band they left in the 80s after making classic post-punk albums like Entertainment and Solid Gold. Their departure means Gang of Four are back to their configuration circa Mall (1991) and Shrinkwrapped (1995) - not exactly the group's most storied releases. "My ability to give 100% to the band is limited and I feel that if I can't do so, then I shouldn't continue," Allen wrote in a statement. "As I expand my research and thinking about contemporary music distribution on Pampelmoose.com, and as I focus on online technology and social networking at Nemo Design here in Portland [Oregon], I find myself conflicted about how the band's new music should be released."

"To retain any credibility for Pampelmoose.com," Allen continued, ignoring the essential indignity of a website named after the French word for grapefruit. "I have to move on and not hold back Jon and Andy's music plans."

Burnham's statement waxed a little more lyrical. "Age only increased [Gang of Four's] power and focus onstage," he wrote, "and it was a rare pleasure to work with the original band once again. Being in a band requires handling the business side of it too, and that became boring and the constant travel became debilitating. I am soon to start my doctorate, as well as broadening my teaching at more than one college here in Massachusetts, so my free time has become increasingly limited."

Allen assured fans that he will continue to make music with his Faux Hoax side-project (perhaps it's now a centre-project), while Burnham is working with both Mike Watt (the Minutemen/the Stooges) and Boston's the Bags.

What remains of Gang of Four will meanwhile continue to do their ganging, four-piece or not, with several dates this summer.